Oral contraceptives and the dexamethasone suppression test

Adrenal Cortex Hormones--analysis; Belgium; Biology; Contraception; Contraceptive Methods; Developed Countries; Dexamethasone Acetate; Endocrine System; Europe; Examinations And Diagnoses; Family Planning; Hormones; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Laboratory Procedures; Oral Contraceptives; Physiology; Western Europe; Adult; Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; Depressive Disorder; Dexamethasone; Female; Human; Hydrocortisone

Abstract :

[en] Among other confounding factors, the influence of the intake of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives on the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results has never been specifically studied. Therefore, we performed 1 mg DST's in 14 healthy women taking oral contraceptives and 14 age-matched women taking no oral contraceptives. Mean 0800h basal total cortisol was significantly higher among the women taking contraceptives than in the control group, whereas mean free cortisol did not significantly differ. At 1600h following DST, no significant difference existed between the two groups. Two subjects taking contraceptives and one control subject were considered DST nonsuppressors. These results confirm the powerful influence of oral contraceptives on basal total cortisol levels but suggest a lack of significant influence on DST results. © 1993.

Disciplines :

Treatment & clinical psychology

Author, co-author :

ANSSEAU, Marc ; Université de Liège - ULg

Leboulle, D.; Psychiatric Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium

Sulon, J.; Department of Medical Chemistry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium

von Frenckell, Rémy ; Psychiatric Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium

Legros, Jean-Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Département des sciences cliniques

Language :

English

Title :

Oral contraceptives and the dexamethasone suppression test

Publication date :

1993

Journal title :

Psychoneuroendocrinology

ISSN :

0306-4530

eISSN :

1873-3360

Publisher :

Elsevier, United Kingdom

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

37-43

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 12 June 2021

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Bibliography

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